Write up on ESI Smart Card
ESI Corporation, with a more generous and benevolent view for ensuring much better services to IP and families, taken a special drive was for computerization, modernization & automation of the existing practices through a project called “Project Pehchaan” to increase the performance of the scheme and faster benefits to the insured employees. The computerization project is undertaken by WIPRO Technologies. It started with the evaluation of employers code, keeping in pace with the computerization process for easy capturing of employer details by codifying all employers with a uniform number of digit as an enabler for quick sorting & filtration of unlimited database and as a result the employer code converted in to 17 digits across all locations accessible and serviceable to all employers at all branch office or at regional office in respective state / region. The details of the code is as shown below
A fresh declaration form (Form I) has to be submitted by an Insured Person with the local branch offices for the purposes of issuance of Smart card.
All employees and his /her family (if required) will be given a smart card instead of traditional paper card as a part of computerization. Smart card is a plastic card just like ATM Card. The smart card will be issued with updated details of the employee and his family members. For the issuance of smart card an up to date database is created, for this purpose all employers are required to get filled a fresh declaration form in FORM I from employees, duly signed & stamped by the Employer and hand over the same to the Insured Person for onward submission of the same to ESIC branch office at the time of presenting himself/herself along with Family members for photosessions & recording of bio-metric finger prints.
After entering all data in to system, an enrollment camp is organized by ESI branch offices, which happens on Sunday also, for taking family photograph and getting bio-metric details. ESIC deliver the smart card to employees through employers. Two cards are issued out of which one is meant for insured person while the other one is for his family members who are eligible under the scheme
Important Points to note
• Declaration Form must be submitted in A4 size paper only. No other sizes of Forms are accepatable to ESIC.
• Form must be submitted without overwriting
• All columns must be filled correctly.
Benefits of computerization of ESIC
1. The employees shall be able to receive medical benefits from any dispensary and cash benefits from any Branch office.
2. The employer is eligible to pay the contribution amount online.
3. Online registration of employers and employees are possible.
It is estimated that 1.2 crore workers and their families covered under the ESIC across India will be benefited by the scheme. Estimated total beneficiaries under the scheme are 6 crore and nearly 2.4 crore cards will be prepared and distributed. One smart card will be issued to the insured person and other to his/her family. The card will reduce the hassles of the card holders as it will entitle them to step into any ESI dispensary, hospital or branch office of the ESIC across the country. This smart card will have photograph of the insured person and their medical history.